Friends of Tahoe City Forms to Block Safeway Deed Restriction; Potential Pest Risk Linked to Costco Grapevines; Cultural District Announces 2026 Mini Grants for Artists; More

TAHOE CITY

A new organization, Friends of Tahoe City, has formed to try and stop Safeway (owned by Albertsons) from deed restricting its building — which it vacated in the fall to move to the west end of town — to prevent another supermarket from purchasing the space.

Tahoe City had two supermarket grocery stores for decades until Save Mart lost its lease in 2023, and Safeway opened in that location this past October.

Friends of Tahoe City state that if the sale of the former Safeway building goes through with a deed restriction, the town will be stuck with only one supermarket for years to come, which does not suffice for locals, let alone the increase in population during peak visitor seasons. The organization said that Safeway already cannot keep up with demand, does not provide the variety expected by locals, has monopoly pricing, and workers’ wages are non-competitive. 

On its website is listed three other cities where Safeway has attempted to block another grocery store from moving in: Mammoth Lakes; Bellingham, Washington; and Denison, Texas. The website offers a link to fill out a complaint form for the California attorney general. More info, visit friendsoftahoecity.com. 

~ Friends of Tahoe City website

TRUCKEE

The Truckee Cultural District is pleased to announce that this year’s Cultural District Mini-Grants are now open. Individual artists seeking support for 2026 projects and/or events that are aligned with the goals of the Truckee Cultural District are invited to submit an application. Requests can be made for up to $1,000 for individual artists, applications for funding will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis until June 30.

To be eligible artists must either live, work and/or serve the Truckee Cultural District community and funded events must be within the Truckee Cultural District/Town of Truckee/Nevada County geographic boundaries. Applicants must also demonstrate a professional track record within the community. All disciplines are encouraged to apply including but not limited to: actors, choreographers, costumers, craftspeople, curators, dancers, designers, directors, exhibit designers/fabricators, musicians, poets, stage technicians, visual artists, writers, and others employed in art and culture professions. 

Applications are open now through June 30 or until funds are completely distributed. To learn more about the Truckee Cultural District Mini Grant Program, visit nevadacountyarts.org. 

~ Nevada County Arts & Culture press release

TAHOE CITY/KINGS BEACH

Artists are invited to apply for a new public art initiative that will transform utility boxes in Tahoe City and Kings Beach into vibrant works of art. Sponsors are also being sought to help fund the project. 

The North Tahoe Chamber, Tahoe City Downtown Association, and Kings Beach District are partnering on the North Tahoe Utility Box Art Project as part of the North Tahoe Community Alliance Town Center Revitalization Project. The project goal is to create actionable, pedestrian-friendly and economically vibrant town centers that benefit both residents and visitors. The North Tahoe Utility Box Art Project is one of the first initiatives being undertaken as part of this work. This project is being funded by the Tahoe Fund, North Tahoe Chamber, and local sponsors. 

Artists are invited to submit original artwork for utility boxes in Tahoe City and Kings Beach. Selected artwork will be professionally installed using vinyl wraps on Liberty Utilities boxes in both town centers. Artists of all experience levels, including student artists, are encouraged to apply. The submission deadline is July 6.

Local businesses also have the opportunity to sponsor artwork on utility boxes. Sponsorship contributions will help cover the costs of artist stipends, vinyl wrap production, materials and installation.

The project aims to enhance the visual appeal of key corridors, reduce graffiti, support local and regional artists, and create a more welcoming experience for residents and visitors.

Project details and application information are available at visittahoecity.org/utility-box. Businesses interested in sponsoring a utility box may find details on the website or can email kat@visittahoecity.com.

~ Tahoe City Downtown Association press release

RENO

Hundreds of volunteers will gather at the Moon Rocks Off-Highway Vehicle Area north of Reno on Saturday, May 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the annual community cleanup effort that has become one of Nevada’s leading examples of rider-led stewardship on public lands. 

Hosted in partnership with the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, Polaris, and the Bureau of Land Management, the event will also feature the announcement of a new national partnership focused on supporting stewardship and volunteerism across public lands and recreation areas nationwide.

The cleanup traces back to local advocate Harry Wagner, who began organizing volunteer efforts at Moon Rocks more than a decade ago after seeing growing impacts to the area he loved. What started with a handful of volunteers has grown into an annual event drawing hundreds of participants and recognition from the BLM as a model for community stewardship.

For information, visit americaslands.org/celebrating-community-volunteers-who-care-of-moon-rocks-ohv-area. 

~ Foundation for America’s Public Lands press release

TAHOE/TRUCKEE

The Trump administration is directing the Forest Service to expand the use of glyphosate — the active ingredient in Roundup — in national forests as part of its broader push to increase timber production and vegetation management on federal lands.

Glyphosate is the world’s most widely used herbicide, but its safety is deeply contested. In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified it as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Bayer, which acquired Monsanto (Roundup’s manufacturer), has paid more than $10 billion to settle tens of thousands of cancer-related lawsuits in the United States.

Beyond human health concerns, glyphosate has been shown to harm pollinators, disrupt aquatic ecosystems when it reaches waterways, and damage the soil microbiome that forests depend on. Critics argue that expanding its use in national forests — lands managed for the public benefit — directly contradicts the agency’s conservation mission and puts hikers, campers, and wildlife at risk.

Locals are mobilizing with Tahoe Truckee Indivisible to fight against the spraying of glyphosate (RoundUp) in the National Forest around Lake Tahoe. Learn more and join up at indivisibletahoetruckee.org.

~ Tahoe Truckee Indivisible website, Tahoe Tomorrow newsletter

WASHOE COUNTY

For the first time, Washoe County Regional Animal Services is offering a free dog licensing promotion from June 1 through June 13 to help get current ID tags on dogs ahead of the busy Fourth of July holiday.

During the promotion, eligible dog owners can receive a free one-year dog license, and all late fees will be waived. Dogs may qualify if they have never been licensed, have an expired license, or are eligible for license renewal of their existing license within 30 days.

To receive the free license, dog owners must visit Washoe County Regional Animal Services in person and provide proof of current rabies vaccination. Dogs are welcome but do not need to be present.

For information, visit washoeanimals.com/freelicense. 

~ Washoe County press release

TRUCKEE

Fire crews responded to a vegetation fire behind the Truckee Safeway on Donner Pass Road on May 23. Cal Fire Nevada Yuba Placer Unit, the U.S. Forest Service, Olympic Valley Fire, and Northstar Fire arrived on scene with the Truckee Fire Protection District and the crews successfully contained the blaze after more than an hour.

The Truckee Police Department arrested 35-year-old Truckee resident Samuel Soto after an investigation into the cause of the fire. He was booked at the Nevada County Jail for the unlawful and reckless causing of a fire to forestland.

No structures were damaged by the fire.

~ MR

OLYMPIC VALLEY

Team Palisades Tahoe continues to establish itself as one of the top alpine racing development programs in the country, with six athletes nominated to the 2026/27 U.S. Ski Team.

On Women’s A Team are Keely Cashman, AJ Hurt, Nina O’Brien, Allison Mollin. On Men’s A Team is Bryce Bennett and on Men’s B Team is Erik Arvidsson.

The four women nominated to the A Team is a major milestone for Team Palisades Tahoe and highlights the strength of the program’s women’s pipeline.

Among the nominations, Mollin’s first-ever A Team selection stands out as a major milestone for the program and a sign of the next generation of homegrown talent emerging from Team Palisades Tahoe.

The team has produced multiple Olympians, World Cup athletes, and U.S. Ski Team members for generations and continues to serve as one of the top ski racing pipelines in the country. Registration for Team Palisades Tahoe’s 2026/27 programs is currently underway through June 15.

For information about Team Palisades Tahoe and available programs, visit palisadestahoe.com/teams/home.

~ Palisades Tahoe press release